smith talks for 24 hours in that one. filibusters rarely last as long as that. huey long talked for 15 hours once. 22 hours and 26 minutes over an oil bill. a few years later, senator thurman spent 24 hours and 18 minutes up there defending white southerners. you need 60 votes to stop it. you need 60 votes to shut it down. until you got those votes, whoever was in the minority just kept talking. no voting, i'm still talking and you can't stop me. nighty night. we know about the old examples you need 60 votes to shut it down. until you got those votes, whoever was in the minority just kept talking. no voting, i'm still talking and you can't stop me. nighty night. we know about the old examples because a filibuster used to happen so rarely because when it did happen the public noticed. now it's not even a filibuster. these days any senator can block any piece of legislation by raising a hand and saying so. a senator can block legislation without even paying the cause of anybody noticing and having the constituents back home asking why they are holding the floor to